This 109-year-old earns money while eating at a Montana restaurant that gives birthday discount based on age

The Montana Club in Missoula gives a generous discount to anyone celebrating their birthday: Whatever your age, take that percentage off your bill. (Photo: Yelp)

The Montana Club in Missoula offers a generous gift if you make it to their restaurant on your birthday: your age as a percentage off your bill. For example, if you’re turning 50, 50 percent comes off your check.

And if you’re like Helen Self and turning 109, you’re actually making money.

Self has been taking advantage of her discount since she passed the century mark, according to Montana Right Now. “Once she turned 101 she informed me that I had to come in and pay her for her meal,” said Nick Alonzo, the owner of the Montana Club.

Self celebrated her 109th birthday last week with two dozen family members and friends. When the bill arrived, Alonzo honored the birthday discount, giving Self a free meal and handing her 9 percent in cash, about $1.25.

Self, who was born in Hamilton, Mont., in 1909, credits hard work and family for her long life. “Well, I just worked hard all my life … and took care of grandkids and more kids,” she said. She currently lives with granddaughter Diane Gunter.

Self may also owe her extended years to her natural ability to party. For her 100th birthday, she rode a Harley-Davidson. At 102, she took up a fishing resort’s offer for a free stay. A sign outside Camp Tuffit reads, “Free cabins to persons over 80 years old. (If accompanied by parents.)” Self’s daughter had just turned 80, so the offer was honored. At 106 she floated down the Clark Fork River, and and at 108, she was giving TV interviews.